ABOUT US

OUR STORY

The center is named in honor of Dr. Michel Odent, a revolutionary French obstetrician who has made dramatic impacts on medical systems, improving the welfare of mothers and children of the world.

He introduced concepts like home-like birthing rooms, birthing pools in maternity hospitals and singing sessions for pregnant women. Dr. Odent is the author of the first articles about the initiation of breastfeeding during the hour following birth (1977), the first article about the use of birthing pools during labor (1983), and the first article applying the “Gate Control Theory of Pain” to obstetrics (1975). He coined the term “hormone of love” when referring to oxytocin.

In addition to approximately 50 scientific papers, Michel has published 15 books in 23 languages and has been a member of the Professional Advisory Board of La Leche League International for about 40 years.

Dr. Odent’s inspirational contributions to evidence-based reform in the sphere of maternal and newborn health have made him a leading voice for change globally.

The MOM Center is honored to be named after this pioneer in the evolution of respectful maternal care.

Dr. Michel Odent

Maternal Care Pioneer
Obstetrician
Childbirth Specialist

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER

Astrik Vardanyan

MOM Center Founder
Medical Anthropologist
Doula

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Every nation should prioritize quality health care for mothers and babies, whose well-being stipulates the future of coming generations. Childbirth and neonatal care should be safe, science-based, and respectful.

Armenia already has a small population and threatened borders that require sustainable reproduction. Without an adequate population size, every other security aspect is bound to collapse.

In our country, the birth experience is fraught with challenges, barriers, and fears, which has led to an extremely low birth rate.

According to the United Nations Population Fund, Armenia has the lowest birthrate in the region, falling from 4.9 to an unsustainable rate of 1.6. While this rate is due to a myriad of socioeconomic and political factors, challenges in maternity care play a huge role. The most important of these challenges is cesarean sections. The rate of cesarean sections has skyrocketed from 3.4% in 1990 to 18.9% in 2010, peaking at 37.5% in 2021, more than double the WHO recommended rate.

Some Yerevan hospitals have reported c-section rates of up to 51%. While c-sections can be lifesaving in some situations, they can also bring about adverse outcomes, including: increased maternal mortality, hemorrhage organ injury to mother and baby, disruption in breastfeeding, increase stillbirth in future pregnancies, and higher infertility rates. But, there is hope.

The Michel Odent Mother (MOM) Center is the first national initiative of its kind founded in partnership with a multidisciplinary team of women’s health and birth professionals from Armenia and the diaspora. The center is named in honor of Dr. Michel Odent, a revolutionary French obstetrician who has made dramatic impacts on medical systems through countless contributions to the welfare of mothers and children of the world.

Our goal is to provide holistic, evidence-based care for women throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.

— Astrik Vardanyan and the MOM Center Team